In World War I, on November 1, 1918, Raffaele Paolucci and Raffaele Rossetti of the Regia Marina rode a manned torpedo (nicknamed Mignatta or "leech") into the harbour of Pula, where they sank the Jugoslavij, of the navy of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, formerly the Austro-Hungarian battleship SMS Viribus Unitis and the freighter Wien using limpet mines.
They had no underwater breathing sets, and thus had to keep their heads above water to breathe. They were discovered and taken prisoner as they attempted to leave the harbour.
1 November 1918: Two men of the Regia Marina, Raffaele Paolucci and Raffaele Rossetti, in diving suits, rode a primitive manned torpedo (nicknamed Mignatta or "leech") into the Austro-Hungarian Navy base at Pola (Istria),
where they sank the Austrian battleship Viribus Unitis and the freighter Wien using limpet mines. They had no breathing sets and they had to keep their heads above water, and thus they were discovered and taken prisoner.
1938: In Italy the "1a Flottiglia Mezzi d'Assalto" (First Fleet Assault Vehicles) was formed as a result of the research and development efforts of two men - Major Teseo Tesei and Major Elios Toschi of the Italian Royal Navy.
The pair resurrected the idea of Paolucci and Rossetti. Human torpedo Kaiten - torbedo ----------------------------------------- In the 1920s, sport spearfishing without breathing apparatus became popular on the Mediterranean coast of France and Italy. This spurred the development of modern swimfins, diving masks and snorkels. In the 1930s Italian sport spearfishermen began using industrial or submarine-escape oxygen rebreathers, starting scuba diving in Italy. --------------------------------------- The first human torpedo (the Italian Maiale) was electrically propelled, with two crewmen in diving suits riding astride. They steered the torpedo at slow speed to the enemy ship. The detachable warhead was then used as a limpet mine. They then rode the torpedo away. In operation, the Maiale torpedo was carried by another vessel (usually a normal submarine), and launched near the target. Most manned torpedo operations were at night and during the new moon to cut down the risk of being seen. The idea was successfully applied by the Italian navy (Regia Marina) early in World War II and then copied by the British when they discovered the Italian operations.
The official Italian name for their craft was Siluro a Lenta Corsa (SLC or "Slow-running torpedo"), but the Italian operators nicknamed it Maiale (Italian for "pig"; plural maiali) because it was difficult to steer. The British copies were named "chariots".
A typical manned torpedo has a propeller and hydroplanes at the rear, side hydroplanes in front, and a control panel and controls for its front rider. It usually has two riders who sit facing forwards. It has navigation aids such as a compass, and nowadays modern aids such as sonar and GPS positioning and modulated ultrasound communications gear.
It may have an air (or other breathing gas) supply so its riders do not have to drain their own apparatus while they are riding it. In some the riders' seats are enclosed; in others the seats are open at the sides as in sitting astride a horse. The seat design includes room for the riders' swimfins (if used). There are flotation tanks (typically four: left fore, right fore, left aft, right aft), which can be flooded or blown empty to adjust buoyancy and attitude.
----------------- 1909: The British designer Commander Godfrey Herbert received a patent for a manned torpedo. During World War I, it was rejected by the War Office as impracticable and unsafe.
The Battle of Tali-Ihantala (June 25 to July 9, 1944) was part of the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War (1941–1944), which occurred during World War II. The battle was fought between Finnish forces—using war materiel provided by Germany—and Soviet forces. To date, it is the largest battle in the history of the Nordic countries. The battle was one of attrition, with the Finns suffering proportionally more casualties than the Soviet forces. It marked a point in the Soviet offensive when the Finnish forces first prevented the Soviets from making any significant gains. However, already earlier at Siiranmäki and Perkjärvi the Finns had halted advancing Soviet forces. Finnish forces achieved a defensive victory, although Russian historian N. Baryshnikov criticizes this as an exaggeration. -------------------- Tali–Ihantala taistelu käytiin jatkosodassa Saksan tukeman Suomen ja Neuvostoliiton välillä vuonna 1944. Teheranin konferenssissa 1943 Neuvostoliitto oli sitoutunut lisäämään sotilaallista painetta Saksaa vastaan erityisesti juuri Normandian maihinnousun tapahduttua.
Tali ja Ihantala kylien alueella, 8–14 kilometriä Viipurista pohjoiseen ja koilliseen, käyty kamppailu on Pohjolan maiden historiassa suurin koskaan käyty taistelu. Suomen armeija pysäytti Neuvostoliiton suurhyökkäyksen tässä taistelussa. -------------------------
Kurt Kuhlmey (19 November 1913 – 30 April 1993) was a Stuka pilot of the Second World War. He flew over 500 combat missions, and in July 1942 was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), which was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. On 9 June 1944 the Soviet Union launched a major offensive on the Karelian Isthmus. The Soviet Army forced the Finns to abandon their defensive lines and on 20 June took Viipuri, the second largest city of Finland. As a reinforcement SG 3 was posted to Finland in June 1944, forming Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey (Detachment Kuhlmey) with Oberst Kuhlmey commanding a composite unit comprising elements of I./SG 3, I./SG 5, II./JG 54 and NAGr.1. Kuhlmey planes: I/SG 3: 33 kpl Junkers Ju 87 D-5 Stuka divebomber II/JG 54: 29–62 kpl Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 fighters I/SG 5: 16 kpl Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-3 - ja F-8 Jabo I/NaGr 5: 1–8 kpl Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-8 scout TGr.10: 35 kpl Savoia Marchetti SM.81/AR transport Junkers Ju-52 transport
Detachment Kuhlmey's actions in Finland during 16 June and 21 July 1944 was hugely influential in the final outcome of the offensive and of the Continuation War. Together Finnish Air Force units and Detachment Kuhlmey made 1,020 bombing sorties against the Soviet troops and armour. The Soviets lost some 300 tanks, 120-280 aircraft and over 20,000 troops. As a result the Soviet advance stalled, and ensuing peace talks led to a cease-fire between the Soviet Union and Finland on 4 September. -------------------------------------
------------------------------------ Liesl Yamaguchi / Penguin classics.co.uk / Unknown-soldiers Yamaguchi has turned again English Finnish author Väinö Linna's novel appeared in 1954 in The Unknown Soldier. Translation Unknown Soldiers published in April 2015 the US publishing house Penguin Penguin Classics series.
Liesl Yamaguchi (b. 1984 in Santa Monica, California, United States) is an American literary scientist, translation science teacher and translator. In 2015, Yamaguchi worked as a teacher of Translation Studies at the University of Tampere in Finland and a visiting researcher at the École normale Dr. supérieure'ssa in Paris, France. Previously, he has served as the US Ambassador to Finland Barbara Barrett assistant in Helsinki in 2008-2009. -----------------------------
Rannalle himmeän lahden aurinko laskenut on. Kutsu jo soi iltahuudon, taakka jo laskettu on. Taattoa muista sa silloin, askel jo uupunut on. Lapset ja lastemme lapset, teidän nyt vuoronne on. Hoivatkaa, kohta poissa on veljet, muistakaa: Heille kallis ol' maa. Kertokaa lastenlapsille lauluin: Himmetä ei muistot koskaan saa! Hymni soi holvissa hiljaa, tummana kaipuuta soi. Aika on korjannut viljaa, sarka jo kynnetty on. Ammoin me marssimme kahden, tulta löi taivas ja maa. Rannoilta Äänisen lahden kelle nyt kertoa saa? Hoivatkaa, kohta poissa on veljet, muistakaa: Heille kallis ol' maa. Kertokaa lastenlapsille lauluin: Himmetä ei muistot koskaan saa! Laineissa Laatokan mahti, kahlita kenkään ei voi. Veljet sen rantoja vahti, konsa on koittava koi? Ylväänä Karjalan heimo tuskansa kantanut on. Maaäiti suojaansa sulkee, vartija poissa jo on. Hoivatkaa, kohta poissa on veljet, muistakaa: Heille kallis ol' maa. Kertokaa lastenlapsille lauluin: Himmetä ei muistot koskaan saa!
Luxemburgin valtaus oli toisessa maailmansodassa Saksan suorittama operaatio keltaiseen kuuluva sotilasoperaatio, jossa Heinz Guderianin johtama Saksan XIX armeijakunta valtasi Luxemburgin 10. toukokuuta 1940.
Saksalaisjoukot kohtasivat ainoastaan lievää vastarintaa ja maa tuli vallattua vuorokaudessa. Suurherttuatar Charlotte ja hallitus onnistuivat pakenemaan ja he perustuvat Lontoossa pakolaishallituksen.
Toisen maailmansodan alkaminen 1. syyskuuta asetti Luxemburgin hallituksen vaikeaan tilanteeseen. Toisaalta kansa sympatisoi länsiliittoutuneita, mutta maan vuoden 1867 Lontoon sopimuksella vahvistettu puolueettomuuspolitiikka vaati hallitusta pysymään riippumattomana muiden maiden riidoista. Radio Luxemburg lopetti 1. syyskuuta lähetyksensä. Keväällä 1940 valmisteltiin asemia Saksan ja Ranskan rajoille. Valmistajansa mukaan nimetty Schuster-linja sisälsi massiivisia betonisia tiesulkuja, joissa oli teräsovet. Niiden tehtävänä hidastaa maahan tunkeutuvan hyökkääjän etenemistä ja mahdollistaa Luxemburgin puolueettomuuden takaajille avun toimittaminen. Tosiasiassa esteet olivat lähinnä nimellisiä ja ne auttoivat lähinnä kansalaisten rauhoittamisessa. Luxemburgin asevoimat koostuivat pienestä vapaaehtoisjoukosta, koska Lontoon sopimuksella oli kielletty varsinaisten asevoimien ylläpito.
Muutamien väärien hälytysten jälkeen keväällä 1940 todennäköisyys Ranskan ja Saksan väliseen yhteenottoon kasvoi. Saksa lopetti koksin toimittamisen Luxemburgin terästeollisuudelle.
Schusterlinjan teräsovet määrättiin suljettaviksi 10. toukokuuta 1940 kello 03.15 sen jälkeen kuin oli havaittu saksalaisjoukkojen liikkuvan rajan takana Our, Sauer ja Mosel-jokien alueella. Saman aikaisesti siviileiksi pukeutuneet Saksan erikoisjoukot, jotka saivat saksalaissyntyisiltä luxemburgilaisilta apua, yrittivät tuloksetta estää radiolähetyksiä ja varustautumista pitkin Saksan vastaista rajaa. Ruhtinasperhe evakuoitiin asunnostaan Colmar-Bergistä Suurherttuan palatsiin Luxemburgin kaupunkiin.
Saksan 1., 2. ja 10. panssaridivisioona ylittivät rajan kello 04.35 kohtaamatta merkittävää vastarintaa ainoastaan muutama silta tuhoutui ja joitakin miinoituksia purettiin. Luxemburgin vapaaehtoisjoukot eivät poistuneet kasarmeiltaan. Poliisit asettuivat vastarintaan, mutta heidän varusteensa olivat riittämättömät. Pääkaupunki vallattiin ennen puolta päivää. Luxemburgilaisista joutui sotavankeuteen 75 sotilasta ja poliisia, kuusi poliisia ja yksi sotilas haavoittui.
Ranskan 3. kevyt ratsuväkidivisioona (kenraali Petiet), jonka tukena olivat 1. Spahiprikaati (evesti Jouffault) ja 5. panssaripataljoonan 2. komppania, ylitti Luxemburgin etelärajan tehtävään selvittää saksalaisjoukkojen kokoonpano ja sijainti. Ranskalaiset kuitenkin vetäytyivät ensimmäisen kohtaamisen jälkeen Maginot-linjan taakse. Iltaan mennessä pääosa Luxemburgista aivan eteläisintä osaa lukuun ottamatta oli saksalaisten hallinnassa. Yli 90 000 siviiliä evakuoitiin Esch-sur-Alzettesta saksalaisten hyökkäyksen seurauksena. Näistä 47 000 Ranskaan ja loput Luxemburgin keski- ja pohjoisosiin.
Suurherttuatar Charlotte ja pääministeri Pierre Dupong pakenivat Ranskan ja Portugalin kautta Brittein saarille, josta he siirtyivät edelleen sodan aikana Kanadaan. Charlottesta tuli Lontoossa kansallisen yhtenäisyyden symboli. Hänen vanhin poikansa ja perillisensä Jean liittyi vapaaehtoisena Britannian armeijaan 1942. Ainoa Luxemburgiin jäänyt hallituksen jäsen oli Albert Wehrer sekä 41 varajäsentä. ------------------------------------------------------------------
7 wounded, 75 captured 5 Spahis killed 1 pilot killed
unknown
-------------------------- The German invasion of Luxembourg was part of Case Yellow (German: Fall Gelb), the German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) and France during World War II. The battle began on 10 May 1940 and lasted just one day. Facing only light resistance, Luxembourg was quickly occupied. The Luxembourgish government, and Grand Duchess Charlotte, managed to escape the country and a government-in-exile was created in London.
The outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939 put Luxembourg’s government in a delicate situation. On the one hand, the population’s sympathy lay with Britain and France; on the other hand, due to the country's policy of neutrality since 1867's Treaty of London, the government adopted a careful non-belligerent stance towards its neighbours. As of 1 September, Radio Luxembourg stopped broadcasting. In spring 1940, fortifications were erected along the borders with Germany and France.
The so-called Schuster Line, named after its constructor, consisted of massive concrete roadblocks with steel doors. The official aim of these road blocks was to slow down the progress of any invading army and give time for the guarantors of Luxembourg's neutrality to take counteractions against the invaders. However, compared to the massive power of the German forces, it only had symbolic character and helped to calm down the population. Except for its small Luxembourgish Volunteer Corps, Luxembourg did not possess an army, due to the treaty's restrictions.
After several false alarms in the spring of 1940, the probability of a military conflict between Germany and France grew. Germany stopped the export of coke for the Luxembourgish steel industry.
The steel doors of the Schuster Line were ordered closed on 10 May 1940 at 03:15, following movements of German troops on the east side of the border rivers Our, Sauer and Mosel. In the meantime, German special forces dressed as civilians and supported by Germans living in Luxembourg - the so-called Stoßtrupp Lützelburg - tried to sabotage radio broadcasting and the barricades along the German-Luxembourgish border but their attempt failed. The Royal Family was evacuated from its residence in Colmar-Berg to the Grand Ducal palace in Luxembourg City.
The German invasion, made up of the 1st, 2nd, and 10th Panzer Divisions began at 04:35. They did not encounter any significant resistance save for some bridges destroyed and some land mines, since the majority of the Luxembourgish Volunteer Corps stayed in their barracks. Luxembourgish police resisted the German troops, however, to little avail; the capital city was occupied before noon. Total Luxembourgish casualties amounted to 75 police and soldiers captured, six police wounded, and one soldier wounded.
At 08:00, elements of the French 3rd Light Cavalry Division (3 DLC) of General Petiet, supported by the 1st Spahi Brigade of Colonel Jouffault and the 2nd company of the 5th Armoured Battalion (5 BCC), crossed the southern border to conduct a probe of German forces; these units later retreated behind the Maginot Line.
On the evening of 10 May 1940, most of the country, with the exception of the south, was occupied by German forces. More than 90,000 civilians evacuated from the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette as a consequence of the advance. 47,000 fled to France, 45,000 fled into the central and northern part of Luxembourg.
Grand Duchess Charlotte and the government of Premier Pierre Dupong fled to France, Portugal and the United Kingdom, before finally settling in Canada for the duration of the war. Charlotte, exiled in London, became an important symbol of national unity. Her eldest son and heir, Jean, volunteered for the British Army in 1942. The only official representative left behind was Albert Wehrer, head of a governmental commission, as well as the 41 deputies.
Sdkfz 4 Gleissketten-Lastkraftwagen (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 4) oli toisessa maailmansodassa käytetty saksalainen sotilaskäyttöön tarkoitettu puolitelavaunu. Siitä valmistettiin useita versioita esimerkiksi Panzerwerfer 42 auf Maultier, Sd.Kfz. 4/1 -------------------------------------
The SdKfz 4 Gleisketten-Lastkraftwagen ("chain-track truck"), was a 4.5-tonne military truck of Maultier ("mule") half-track family developed during World War II by Germany. Its manufacturer designation was Mercedes-Benz L4500R.
The SdKfz 4 was developed after the 1941 invasion of the USSR to deal with the ice and mud, which bogged down the road-bound commercial vehicles that were used to supply German forces. It was modified Standard Mercedes-Benz L4500S (4x2) with Horstmann suspension instead of back axle. Another manufacturer of 4.5-t truck, Büssing, planned a similar conversion of its Büssing-NAG L4500S, but did not proceed. A total of 22,500 Maultier halftracks were produced by 1944, among which 1480 were 4.5-t. SdKfz 4, others 2-t. SdKfz 3. In 1943 Opel was ordered to build armored vehicles outfitted with 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 rocket launchers. These vehicles were designated SdKfz 4/1, with around 300 produced. Given the extra weight of the Panzerwerfer, the top speed was only 24 mph (40 kph).
The vast majority of Maultiers operated using British-pattern Carden-Loyd running gear, with the exception of the Type L4500R, which used PzKpfw. II running gear. The 6-cylinder engines were mated to a transmission with 5 forward / 1 reverse gears and could attain a maximum forward speed of 40 km/h. Each halftrack was equipped with the FuG Spr G f radio.
Aside from the SdKfz 4/1, the SdKfz 4 was armed only with a light 7.92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 machine gun with a traverse of 270° and elevation limits of -12° to +80°.
The first human torpedo (the Italian Maiale) was electrically propelled, with two crewmen in diving suits riding astride. They steered the torpedo at slow speed to the enemy ship. The detachable warhead was then used as a limpet mine. They then rode the torpedo away.
